-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, KwPKbe7+BrRCxQaURqtHgyMT94DU8qw4Tby5x5NRHPuP+Yf3YulSkJ59YHDpQ5KJ 1Op30lZgq+fSMx/n6J/eow== 0001193125-08-124822.txt : 20080529 0001193125-08-124822.hdr.sgml : 20080529 20080529172312 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-08-124822 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080529 ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20080529 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080529 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: iShares Silver Trust CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001330568 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: GOLD & SILVER ORES [1040] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-32863 FILM NUMBER: 08867611 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 45 FREMONT STREET CITY: SAN FRANCISCO STATE: CA ZIP: 94105 BUSINESS PHONE: 415-597-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 45 FREMONT STREET CITY: SAN FRANCISCO STATE: CA ZIP: 94105 8-K 1 d8k.htm FORM 8-K Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): May 29, 2008

 

 

iShares Silver Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   001-32863   13-7474456

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

c/o Barclays Global Investors International, Inc.

45 Fremont Street

San Francisco, California 94105

Attn: Product Management Team

Intermediary Investor and Exchange-Traded Products Group

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 597-2000

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 8.1        Tax opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP, dated May 29, 2008


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  iShares Silver Trust

May 29, 2008

  By:   Barclays Global Investors International Inc.
  By:  

/s/ Lee T. Kranefuss

  Name:   Lee T. Kranefuss
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
EX-8.1 2 dex81.htm TAX OPINION OF CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP, DATED MAY 29, 2008 Tax Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP, dated May 29, 2008

Exhibit 8.1

May 29, 2008

Barclays Global Investors International Inc.

45 Fremont Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

 

Re: iShares Silver Trust Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as legal counsel to Barclays Global Investors International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing under Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a prospectus containing certain additions to the information included in the prospectus that is part of the registration statement on Form S-3 No. 333-149810 (the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement relates to the continuous offering of shares (the “Shares”) representing units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the iShares Silver Trust (the “Trust”), a trust formed under the laws of the State of New York pursuant to the terms of the Depositary Trust Agreement dated April 21, 2006 (the “Trust Agreement”), entered into by and among the Company, as sponsor, and The Bank of New York, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”). In connection therewith, you have requested our opinion with respect to certain U.S. federal income tax matters. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Trust Agreement.

In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined and relied on the Trust Agreement; the Registration Statement; originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of all such agreements, certificates and other statements of corporate officers and other representatives of the Company; and such other documents, records and instruments as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us to render the opinion referred to in this letter.

In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed, with your consent, that all documents reviewed by us are original documents, or true and accurate copies of original documents, and have not been subsequently amended; the signatures of each original document are genuine; each party who executed the document had proper authority and capacity; all representations and statements set forth in such documents are true and correct; and all obligations imposed by any such documents on the parties thereto have been or will be performed or satisfied in accordance with their terms.

Our opinions are based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, pertinent judicial decisions, current interpretive rulings and


Page 2

May 29, 2008

pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and such other authorities as we have considered relevant, in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to legislative, judicial or administrative change or differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Our opinions are not binding on the IRS, and no assurance can be given that the conclusions expressed herein will not be challenged by the IRS or sustained by a court.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, (i) we are of the opinion, although not free from doubt due to the lack of directly governing authority, that the Trust will be classified as a “grantor trust” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and (ii) we confirm that the discussion in the Registration Statement under the caption “United States Federal Income Tax Consequences,” to the extent it consists of statements of law and legal conclusions, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth therein, constitutes our opinion as to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply under currently applicable law to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Shares.

The opinions stated above represent our conclusions as to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws existing as of the date of this letter. Further, the opinions set forth above represent our conclusions based upon the assumptions, documents, facts and representations referred to above. Any material amendments to such documents, changes in any significant facts or inaccuracy of such assumptions or representations could affect the accuracy of our opinions. Although we have made such inquiries and performed such investigations as we have deemed necessary to fulfill our professional responsibilities as counsel, we have not undertaken an independent investigation of all of the facts referred to in this letter and the certificates and other statements of corporate officers and other representatives of the Company.

The opinions set forth in this letter are (i) limited to those matters expressly covered and no opinion is expressed in respect of any other matter, (ii) as of the date hereof, and (iii) rendered by us at the request of the Company. We assume no obligation to update our opinions for events or changes in the law occurring after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K that will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and to the references therein to us. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/S/ CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP

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